San Gabriel Valley Digest

Duarte : Uses for School Site Studied

City and school officials will hold a series of meetings to consider options for the use of five acres next to Duarte High School, just north of the Foothill (210) Freeway.

The city, which considers the land on Central Avenue near Highland Avenue to be in a prime commercial area, has been interested in attracting an auto dealership to the site. School officials would like to create an educational park, moving Northview Middle School next to the high school. Some thought also has been given to including a $6-million civic auditorium in the educational park.

Although the land is owned by the Duarte Unified School District, major plans for development would require the cooperation of the city and its redevelopment agency. The first public discussion of the matter will be at the City Council meeting Tuesday. Other discussions are planned Sept. 4 with the school board and Sept. 9 with the City Council.